Happy Trails for Kids

Foster children face challenges most people will never fully understand.

And yet… they keep going.

They keep learning.
Keep trusting.
Keep hoping.

That’s resilience.

As we continue our Foster Care Awareness Month series, the letter “R” stands for Resilience.

Every child deserves the support, stability, and encouragement to keep moving forward… no matter where their journey begins.

An incredible day for our Junior Leadership Cohort!

A huge THANK YOU to our amazing partners — Hope In a Suitcase, Make Good, Kid Grit , and Junior League — for pouring into the lives of our teens in such meaningful ways.

Julia from Kid Grit led an engaging and impactful workshop focused on real-world leadership and professional communication skills. Our teens learned the importance of email etiquette, following up, making strong first impressions, carrying a positive attitude, and building the confidence needed to become respectful, authentic leaders.

After the workshop, the teens enjoyed a delicious lunch and an unforgettable shopping experience where they received professional clothing, casual and athletic wear, shoes, suitcases, toiletries, and essentials to help them feel prepared, empowered, and confident for the future.

Thanks to our wonderful friends and partners at the Junior League, each Junior Leader also received a digital camera to capture memories and moments from camp this summer — a gift they were incredibly excited about! 📸

We are so grateful for partners who believe in equipping youth not just with things they need — but with the confidence, experiences, and skills to thrive. 💙
Hope In A Suitcase Junior League of Los Angeles kid-grit

Watching it grow… watching the kids grow… watching the impact grow.

Happy Trails has always felt like family.
Now, it has a place to call home too.

That’s what building something real looks like.

A strong community changes everything.

During Foster Care Awareness Month, we’re reminded that no child should feel alone. At Happy Trails for Kids, community isn’t just something you experience at camp…it’s something that stays with you long after.

It’s the friendships.
The support.
The feeling of finally belonging.

Because when young people know they’re not alone, everything starts to change.

23,000 kids age out every year…
and too many do it alone.

Happy Trails steps in earlier — building relationships, trust, and support that don’t disappear when the system does.

Because what lasts matters most.

“Community means sticking together… no matter what.”

From camper to mentor… that’s the kind of impact that lasts.

Happy Trails builds bonds you don’t break — the kind that carry kids forward long after camp ends.

Happy Trails gives kids something they can count on —
trust, encouragement, and a space where they feel safe to grow.

That’s how confidence starts to come back.

If you had to sum it up in one word…

Family.

That’s what Happy Trails creates — bonds, memories, and moments kids carry with them for the rest of their lives.

Not just a program… something that stays.

Happy Trails campers got their sea legs and set sail to Catalina Island aboard tall ships with LAMI and our incredible counselors! ⚓️

They experienced life on a wooden brigantine—hoisting sails, tying knots, learning navigation and marine biology, climbing to the crow’s nest, and even relaxing on the bowsprit.

Once on the island, the adventure continued with kayaking, tide pooling, hiking, a beach BBQ, and (of course) ice cream from the market!

Throughout the trip, campers made new friends, stepped outside their comfort zones, gained confidence, built leadership skills, and learned to RESPECT the ocean—bringing our core values of Confidence, Respect, and Leadership to life.

We couldn’t have asked for better weather—the skies were blue, the sun was shining, and despite the threat of a storm, it turned out to be an unforgettable experience!


Los Angeles Maritime Institute - LAMI